Sylvia May OWEN (1908-2005)

Syl proudly proclaiming being 94 years old on this Christmas card to her nephew John Owen and family

Leslie Darsey Newton (Wedding Day 29 Mar 1937)

Sylvia May OWEN1 (known as 'Syl'), daughter of John OWEN (1879-1970) and Rachel Elizabeth BURLEY (1883-1963), was born on 26 January 1908 in Orange, NSW.2 In 1933 she was a factory employee .3 In 1933 she resided at "Fransyl", McDonald St in Lakemba, NSW. This was her parents home.3 She married Leslie Darsey NEWTON on 29 March 1937 in Sydney, NSW.4,5

It's not known where Les and Syl lived when they were first married but in 1940 (approx.) they lived in Strathfield, NSW. They were living there when they purchased the house at 37 Ormond St Ashfield, NSW (It was later renumbered to 25). They lived downstairs while Syl's brother, Ted with his wife and family lived upstairs. There was also another flat occupied by a Mrs Gosling and her daughter Jill Reddy. About 1951/52 they sold the Ashfield house and moved to Parramatta Rd Haberfield, NSW as temporary accommodation while they searched for their dream home. They lived in a flat which was above a mechanic's workshop. It was a couple of doors down and across the road from Les' used car lot. It's not known whether they owned the building or not. They eventually found and purchased the home at 11 Rowe St Roseville Chase, NSW. (On 24 September 2007, the house's name was "Trafrey". It was probably this name when they lived there although it is not known for sure). They moved into the Roseville house about 1952. Les lived there for the rest of his life.6,7,8 In 1978 she resided at 11 Rowe St in Roseville Chase, NSW. She stayed there for another couple of years after Les' death before moving to a townhouse in Turramurra. About 1988 she moved into 221 Fernback Village, Kitcheners Rd St Ives NSW, a nursing home. In August 2004 she moved to Turramurra House, Turramurra, NSW.9,10 Sylvia was very proud that she established a known Owen family longevity record by living to 97. She outlived her father, John Owen, who had held the previous record at 91. This pride is illustrated in the wording of the Christmas card Syl sent her nephew, John Owen and his wife Ellen in 2002.10,11

Syl died (aged 97) on 31 August 2005 at Turramurra House, 34 Curagul Rd in Turramurra, NSW. She suffered a stroke the week before she died and didn't recover.1 She was buried on 6 September 2005 in Field of Mars Cemetery in Ryde, NSW. The service was held at 11.15am in Palm Chapel, Macquarie Park Cemetery before moving on to the Field of Mars cemetery.12

Leslie Darsey NEWTON1 was the son of Darsey NEWTON (1886- ) and Elsie Alberta HIGGINS (1886-1932). He and Sylvia May OWEN had the following children:

{S0021}, Researcher : OWEN, John Edward (0001). Cit. Date: 28 November 2011. Assessment: Secondary evidence.They moved into the Strathfield house when when their daughter Kay was about two years old (c.1940)